Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2023
Statistics on the economic contributions of Scotland’s marine sectors. Includes a time series of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), turnover and employment for industrial categories defined as part of the marine sector.
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This fishing section covers commercial sea fishing only. Fishing is important to Scotland’s rural and coastal economies. It feeds into Scotland’s food and drink economy and provides rural employment. Fishing data is taken from several different sources. See Data and Methodology for more information.
In 2023, fishing generated £394 million aGVA, 0.21% of the Scottish economy and 7% of the marine economy aGVA. Fishing employed 3,793 people, 0.14% of Scottish employment and 5% of marine economy employment.
From 2022 to 2023, the aGVA from fishing (adjusted to 2023 prices) increased by 11%. In the longer term, from 2014 to 2023, fishing aGVA increased by 10%. From 2014 to 2023, employment fell by 14%.
Fishing aGVA depends largely on the price and weight of fish landed. The overall value of fish landings increased between 2022 and 2023. More information on fish landings is in the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics publication.
Aberdeenshire had the highest fishing aGVA at £199 million in 2023 (Figure 3), 50% of fishing aGVA. Aberdeenshire includes Peterhead, the UK’s largest fishing port.
Figure 3. Aberdeenshire had the highest fishing aGVA at £199 million, followed by Shetland Islands at £88 million.
Fishing aGVA by local authority, 2023